Electrically controlled carriage tabulating mechanism



R. E. SEYMOUR ETAL 3,087,594

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED CARRIAGE TABULATING MECHANISM April 30, 19 63 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12, 1961 F 6 INVENTORJ.

AAYMOA/D E .mwoz/k JAMIJ 0. JOA/[J April 1963 R. E. SEYMOUR ETAL 3,087,594

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED CARRIAGE TABULATING MECHANISM .44 FIG. 3

IN VEN TORS ATTURNE) United States Patent fii-ce 3,087,594 Patented Apr. 30, 1963 a 087 a4 ELECTRICALLY coNTRoLLED CARRIAGE TABULATING MECHANISM Raymond E. Seymour, Norwalk, and James 0. Jones,

Br dgeport, onn, si n s t p ry Rand Corporation, New York, N. a corporation of Delaware Filed June 12, 1961, Ser. No. 116,415 8 Claims. (Cl. 197--177) Usually for information to be readily handled by a data processing machine, it is necessary that the information be properly located. Also, in many reports, particularly statistical reports, it is necessary that the information be in columnar format. Furthermore, it is quite often the case that many different formats will be required for data processing or reports.

One method of converting information from a typewriter to a form for automatic machine handling is by having the typewriter automatically produce encoded paper tape from the information put into the typewriter by an operator. In these instances, location of the information is of prime concern, and for different types of information different formats may be required.

Heretofore, in order to set a format in a typewriter tabulating mechanism, it was necessary to clear the tabulation stops and reset the desired ones individually. In changing formats, much unnecessary time was consumed. Once a format was cleared from the machine, it could only be obtained again by individually setting the tabulation stops. 1

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a power operated typewriter or similar machine with a tabulating device which is electrically operated.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for setting a tabulation format.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means whereby the format may be readily switched to one of any desired number of preselected formats.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification.

Generally speaking, in accordance with this invention, a power operated typewriter is provided with an elec trically controlled tabulating mechanism which will respond to any preselected format. When the tabulation key is depressed, the carriage is released and travels freely. At the same time, a carriage stopping mechanism is spring cocked prior to firing. When the carriage has travelled a chosen amount, a circuit is completed which causes the carriage stopping mechanism to fire and be interposed in a rack on the carriage to stop the carriage at the desired letter space position.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be pointed out with particularity in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, the interrelation between the tabulation key, the power mechanism, the carriage stopping mechanism, the carriage and the plugboard associated therewith, the view showing only those parts necessary for an understanding of the invention, with some of the parts shown in section.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing the carriage stopping mechanism at the rest position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the carriage stopping mechanism in the cocked position.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the carriage stopping mechanism after it has fired, with the mechanism interposed in the carriage rack.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken through line 55 of FIG. 2 showing the means for holdingthe mechanism in the cooked position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the plugboard and the contacts mounted to the carriage for traversing the plugboard.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a tabulation key 11, positioned in a typewriter keyboard (not shown) is mounted at the extremity of a power mechanism 12 adjacent to a power roll 13, which constantly rotates in the direction shown. Key 11 may be depressed manually or by means of a solenoid '14 to commence the tabulating operation. The power mechanism 12 is of a type well known in the art and may be constructed, for example, as disclosed in Patent No. 2,737,279 issued to F. W. Schremp on March 6, 1956. Depression of tabulation key 11 causes power mechanism 12 to cooperate with power roll 13 to pull a rod 15 in the direction shown by the arrow. Rod 15 is attached to a tabulating mechanism 16 whose construction is also well known in the art. One type of tabulating mechanism is disclosed in FIG. 17 and described in columns 11 and 12 of Patent No. 2,874,369 issued to A. Blain et al. on February 17, 1959. The movement of rod 15 is transmitted through tabulating mechanism 16 and depresses an arm 17 which thereby frees a dog 18 from an escapement Wheel 19 allowing the carriage 21- to move in the letter space or tabulating direction until the mechanism hereinafter described stops the carriage.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a base member 22 mounted within the typewriter has a sliding member 23 projecting vertically therethrough. Sliding member 23 is substantially L-shaped having a hook leg 24 at the top forming the horizontal portion of the member. Sliding member 23 is urged downwardly and to the right by means of the tension of a spring 25 attached between the hook leg 24 and a post 26 mounted to base member 22. The vertical portion of sliding member 23 has two elongated slots 27 therein, said slots being elongated in the vertical direction and positioned one above the other. Projecting from sliding member 23 is an car 28 (shown in phantom) having a pin 30 projecting therefrom. Ear 28 is more clearly shown in FIG. 1.

An interposing bar 31 is mounted vertically, adjacent sliding member 23 with the bottom of the bar resting on base member 22. Two screws 32 are secured to interposing bar 31 through the elongated slots 27 to maintain sliding contact between sliding member 23 and interposing bar 31. Also, projecting from interposing bar 31 is an ear 33.

A latch 34 is pivotally mounted to bracket 35 which is attached to base member 22. An actuator 36, such as an electromagnet, is positioned within the typewriter to attract an armature 37 pivotally mounted at 38 to the typewriter frame. An arm 39 connects armature 37 to latch 34. A spring 41 attached to armature 37 yieldably holds latch 34 in contact with car 33. Another spring 42 is attached between one of screws 32 and hook leg 24. Spring 42 urges interposing bar 31 upwards in relation to sliding member 23. A hook plate 43 having a hook segment 51 therein is attached to an upper frame member 44. As seen in FIG. 5, hook plate 43 passes through a slot 29 in hook leg 24 so that the hook leg may be hooked over hook segment 51. The carriage 21 (FIG. 1) carries a rack 46 having saw teeth along its edge. Rack 46 passes over interposing bar 31 during the letter space or tabulation movement of the carriage. The direction of carriage travel is indicated by the arrow in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 6, carriage 21 has one or more wiper contact sets 45 mounted thereon. A plug board 47 having horizontal rows of plug hole contacts 48 therein, the number of contacts in each horizontal row equal to the number of letter space positions of the typewriting machine, is mounted stationary with relation to carriage 21. A wiper contact set 45 passes over and makes contact with two adjacent rows of plug hole contacts 48 when the carriage moves in the letter space direction, selected pairs of said contacts being plugged in accordance with desired carriage escapment positions to partially establish a control circuit to the actuator 36.

To now describe the operation of the tabulating device, reference is again had to FIG. 1. When tabulation key 11 is depressed, power mechanism 12 cooperating with power roll 13 pulls rod 15 in the direction shown and, through the tabulating mechanism described in aforementioned Patent No. 2,874,369, removes dog 18 from escapement wheel 19 to permit carriage 21 to travel freely in the letter space or tabulation direction. An arm 49, which forms part of tabulating mechanism 16, is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction. Arm 49 engages pin 30 projecting from car 28 and moves sliding member 23 in the vertical direction.

Referring now to FIG. 2, elongated slots 27 permit sliding member 23 to move vertically with relation to interposing bar 31 which is held securely by latch 34. As sliding member 23 rises vertically, hook plate 43 rides in slot 29 in the sliding member (FIG. Spring 25 causes sliding member 23 to turn slightly clockwise as it rises. When hook leg 24 reaches hook segment 51 of hook plate 43, the sliding member turns an additional clockwise amount and becomes hooked on the hook plate as shown in FIG. 3.

The upward travel of sliding member 23 tensions spring 42, exerting an upward force on interposing bar 31; however, the interposing bar is held down by latch 34. Although sliding member 23 pulled interposing bar 31 with it as it turned slightly clockwise, such movement was not sufiicient to remove ear 33 from engagement with latch 34. At this point the interposing bar 31 is cocked and ready for firing.

During the cocking of the device, carriage 21 moves to the left and a wiper contact set 45 scans plugboard 47 (FIGS. 1 and 6). When a pair of plugged plug hole contacts 43 is contacted by a wiper contact set 45, a circuit (not shown) is closed which sends current through actuator 36. Referring now to FIG. 4, when actuator 36 is energized it attracts armature 37 which removes latch 34 from engagement with ear 33. This allows interposing bar 31 to rise rapidly under the force exerted by spring 42, and interpose itself between two of the teeth in rack 46. Further movement of the carriage to the left moves interposing bar 31 in a counterclockwise direction until it abuts a fixed stop 52 on plate 44, thereby arresting carriage travel. The counterclockwise movement of the interposing bar and associated sliding member 23 unhooks leg 24 from hook plate 43. When carriage travel in the letter spaced direction has been arrested, the carriage rebounds slightly to the right and releases pressure from interposing bar 31, thereby allowing the interposing bar and the sliding plate to be returned to the rest position shown in FIG. 2 under the tension of spring 25. At the same time, dog 18 is inserted in escapement wheel 19 (FIG. 1), as described in aforementioned patent No. 2,874,369, to hold the carriage in the selected position. Wiper contact set 45 moves beyond contact with the plugged pair of plug hole contacts 48 in plugboard 47 before the carriage travel is arrested, deactivating actuator 36 and allowing latch 34 to engage car 33 when the interposing bar returns to the rest position. The mechanism is ready for the next tabulation operation.

The plugboard 47 is positioned in relation to carriage 21 so that the carriage may be tabulated to any letter space position merely by plugging the proper pair of plug hole contacts 48 in adjacent rows which will be contacted by a wiper contact set 45.

From the foregoing it is evident that any number of tabulation formats may be produced by the proper plugboard settings. Furthermore, if the carriage carries a multiplicity of contact sets contacting a multiplicity of adjacent plug hole rows, many different formats may be set up in the plugboard, the format desired being readily selected by switching the circuit from one pair of plug hole contact rows to another pair of plug hole contact rows. It is also evident that many plugboards having formats set up therein may be quickly interchanged to provide any desired format.

This application has particularly pointed out and distincfly claims the part, improvement, or combination which is claimed as the invention or discovery, and there has been explained the principles thereof and the best mode contemplated for applying those principles so as to distinguish the invention from other inventions.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as will be clear to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a business machine having a movable carriage normally urged in the letter space direction and a carriage release mechanism for allowing free travel of said carriage, the combination including a rack mounted on said carriage, an interposer spring biased to engage with said rack for stopping said carriage, cocking means controlled by said carriage release mechanism and including a fixed hook member for placing said interposer under spring bias in a ready position, firing control means for releasing said interposer for spring driven advance from the ready position to a position of engagement with said rack, and a circuit operating said firing control means in response to chosen amounts of travel of said carriage.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said cocking means comprises a slide slidably attached to said interposer and a spring attached between said interposer and said slide, said slide being shifted sufiiciently by said carriage release mechanism to be hooked on said hook, said spring thereby being tensioned to exert a force on said interposer urging said interposer in the direction for engaging with said rack.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said firing control means comprises a latch for yieldably securing said interposer and an electrically controlled actuator cooperating with said circuit to release said interposer.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said circuit includes a plugboard mounted stationary with relation to said carriage and contacts mounted on said can r-iage and cooperating with said plugboard for operating said firing control means.

5. The combination including a frame, a sliding member passing through said frame, an interposing bar slidably attached to said sliding member, a hook plate attached to said frame, said sliding member adapted to be hooked by said hook plate, a restoring spring attached between said sliding member and said frame, a second spring attached between said sliding member and said interposing bar, a latch pivotally attached to said frame and positioned to prevent movement of said interposing bar, and electrically controlled means attached to said latch for selectively releasing said interposing bar.

6. A carriage tabulating control mechanism comprising in combination, a carriage, an operating device for commencing tabulation, a power mechanism actuated by said operating device, interposer means condi'toned by said power mechanism for spring driven release, a rack attached to said carriage and positioned opposite said interposer means, and an electrically controlled latch cooperating with said interp'oser means for releasing same to engage said r-ack to halt carriage tabulation, said interposer means comprising a slide, a hook cooperating with said slide, Jan interposing bar slidably cooperating with said slide and yieldably secured by said latch, and a spring attached between said interposing bar and said slide, said slide being shifted sufliciently by said power mechanism to be engaged by said hook, said spring thereby being tensioned to exert a force on said interposing bar, said interposing bar being acted upon by said force to engage said rack when said latch is electrically controlled to releasev said in terposing bar.

7. The invention according to claim 6 and further including a circuit for operating said electrically controlled latch, said circuit including a plugboard mounted stationary with relation to said carriage and contacts mounted on said carriage and cooperating with said plugboard for closing said circuit to operate said electrically controlled latch upon chosen amounts of carriage travel.

8. The invention according to claim 6 and further including restoring means cooperating with said interposer means for removing said interposing bar from engagement with said rack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,558,413 Becker June 26, 1951 2,818,961 Toeppen Jan. 7, 1958 2,885,052 Toggenburger May 5, 1959 2,988,193 Donofrio et al June 13, 1961 

1. IN A BUSINESS MACHINE HAVING A MOVABLE CARRIAGE NORMALLY URGED IN THE LETTER SPACE DIRECTION AND A CARRIAGE RELEASE MECHANISM FOR ALLOWING FREE TRAVEL OF SAID CARRIAGE, THE COMBINATION INCLUDING A RACK MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE, AN INTERPOSER SPRING BIASED TO ENGAGE WITH SAID RACK FOR STOPPING SAID CARRIAGE, COCKING MEANS CONTROLLED BY SAID CARRIAGE RELEASE MECHANISM AND INCLUDING A FIXED HOOK MEMBER FOR PLACING SAID INTERPOSER UNDER SPRING BIAS IN A READY POSITION, FIRING CONTROL MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID INTERPOSER FOR SPRING DRIVEN ADVANCE FROM THE READY POSITION TO A POSITION OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RACK, AND A CIRCUIT OPERATING SAID FIRING CONTROL MEANS IN RESPONSE TO CHOSEN AMOUNTS OF TRAVEL OF SAID CARRIAGE. 